BlackBerry announces asset-tracking system for truck fleets

Smartphone pioneer BlackBerry Ltd. said today that it has launched a budget-priced asset-tracking system for trucking companies and private fleet operators.

Customers who use BlackBerry Radar can optimize utilization of their trailers and shipping containers, improve on-time delivery, reduce theft, and generate more revenue from each trailer, according to the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which was formerly known as Research in Motion Ltd.

The system is currently being tested. The final product will hit the market this summer. BlackBerry Radar will enter a crowded field with plenty of options, but the company says its product can achieve the same results as existing platforms without requiring users to invest in expensive IT infrastructure. The company has not announced its pricing.

The BlackBerry Radar product suite includes a self-powered tracking device, data security, visual reports, and an Internet of Things (IoT) platform with cloud-based applications. That design allows managers, load planners, and dispatchers to read the results on any smartphone, tablet, or computer with a web browser.

The BlackBerry Radar asset-tracking system monitors a trailer's whereabouts via a self-powered device that can be attached to the equipment.

The tracking device can monitor GPS location, temperature, humidity, and the presence of cargo. That means users can track highly mobile assets, reduce thefts, and maximize asset utilization without hiking operational costs, Blackberry said.

Sample applications include sending real-time alerts when a trailer crosses a user-defined geo-fence or when a trailer door has opened or closed, the company said. In another example, BlackBerry Radar could issue a notification as a trailer approached a warehouse, allowing warehouse staff to prepare for the incoming shipment and unload the trailer more quickly.